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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2014, 16, 4 (pages: 63 - 70)

Deleterious effects of benzodiazepine abuse among Methadone Maintenance Treatment patients

Peles E., Schreiber S., and Adelson M.

Summary: Background: Benzodiazepines (BDZs) abuse was found to cause diverse harmful effects among MMT patients. Aims: The current report summarizes BDZ aspects with respect to sleep, depression, anxiety, retention and survival, hepatitis C, and trends of abuse during 20 years of the Adelson methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) clinic experience. Methods: We summarized several finding of our MMT patients and relevant aspects from other studies. Results: BDZ abuse was found to be associated with poor outcome that expanded to all aspects. Conclusions: Based on our 20 years cohort follow up, we found that BDZs abuse, at least in part, can be significantly reduced by behavioral methods, such as adherence to policy and procedures regulations, and staff attitude.